One year after Sebastian Marsical withdrew plans for a controversial apartment building in Boston's Allston neighborhood, the developer has won approval for the city’s first energy-positive community.

On Thursday, the Boston Redevelopment Authority approved Sebastian Marsical Studio’s concept as part of the city’s E+ Green Building Demonstration Program. The $13 million project at 778-796 Parker St. and 77 Terrace St. on Mission Hill will be constructed on city-owned land. The development is projected to have a 21 percent energy surplus, and will be able to sell that energy back to the grid, the BRA said.

The transit-oriented development will feature 44 apartments, each designed around an outdoor space. The project also includes 4,124 square feet of retail space, 82 bicycle parking spaces, 30 parking spots and community gardens.

BRA officials said the project is designed to be built into the hillside of the project site, with a series of courtyards stepping down through the site and providing dramatic passage between Parker and Terrace streets and creating a new pedestrian connection. Sustainable elements of the design are geothermal heating systems, water filtration systems and a 14,500-square-foot solar farm on the project’s roof.

Last year, Sebastian's proposed project in Allston generated lots of discussion over whether it makes sense to build apartments without parking spaces, something his plan did not include. Mariscal withdrew the proposal after it was disclosed that he did not in fact own the 37-43 North Beacon Street property. The land is owned by the Mount Vernon Co.

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